A 3D printed modular cooling system

To address the effects of hot weather in the cities, Andrin Stocker and Luc Schweizer, students at the Zurich University of the Arts, presented a special 3D-printed brick as their final project for their Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design.

Made of terracotta, bloc° is a modular cooling system that uses a solar-powered evaporation and airflow mechanism to lower temperatures in unshaded urban areas by up to nine degrees.

It provides a noticeable cooling effect and improves comfort in key locations such as bus stops, walkways, squares, and train stations.

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Photo by Andrin Stocke

How does design interact with nature?

Inspired by "traditional knowledge, natural systems, and urban objects", bloc° demonstrates how design can interact with nature to cool the air through evaporation and self-shading.

On days when the temperature exceeds 30°C, the system consumes around 56 litres of water, which can be supplied via municipal infrastructure or integrated rainwater harvesting.

This project offers an eco-friendly alternative to combat high temperatures in urban areas, as opposed to systems with high carbon emissions.

Photo by Andrin Stocke

Sources: El Mundo, Industrial Design

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